Labour originally said the sector would shrink by only 37,000 pupils in the long run as a result of the policy - but this may now turn out to be an underestimate.

Private school pupil numbers have plummeted by 30,000, down nearly 7 per cent in some year groups, since Labour introduced VAT on fees.

Labour originally said the sector would shrink by only 37,000 pupils in the long run as a result of the policy - but this may now turn out to be an underestimate.